There was no answer, though Black Smith, appointed over her for the night, and now following her, heard her plainly. Black Smith had not slept at his post as had her guardian of the night before.
When she approached the old woman’s cabin she could hear no sound. She would go in and get the will and carry it with her.
But she did not enter the cabin. On the step lay one of the cross dogs of the mountaineers, who, when she spoke to him, rose and growled fiercely. She backed out of the thicket.
At the forks she took the right-hand road. She had gone only a short distance when she heard behind her the sound of footsteps, and turned and looked toward the bend round which she had come. Black Smith had decided to accompany her instead of stalking her.
Elizabeth stood still, recognizing him at once from the description of Colonel Thomas.
“It ain’t no use to come here unless you got the paper.”
Elizabeth backed against the tree, appalled by the savage aspect of Smith.
“I have no paper that would be of any value to you.”
“You made out a paper,” he insisted. “We heard tell of it. You can’t keep things secret from the mountain people. You’ve got to get it for us.”
“That was a will made for the sick old woman,” explained Elizabeth. “She was afraid that her son would take her money for a gun and she would not have decent burial. I made a will for her.”
Black Smith came still closer. The odor of liquor was strong on his breath.
“Well, then, git the paper! No paper should be written by strangers in the settlement of the mountain people. There’s those of us can write. If papers is to be writ we can write them. An’ we can read what is on papers that has been writ. You fetch this paper an’ we’ll tell what’s on it.”
Elizabeth hesitated. The old woman could hardly be made more miserable than she was. She would go and get the paper now and Herbert should be free.
Black Smith was impatient with her delay. He looked at her menacingly.
“Look here. Your brother ain’t gettin’ much to eat while you’re foolin’! He sets all the time an’ cries for his mammy, that’s what he does! We know his kind, an’ we have no use for such folks among the mountain people. We know what else was on that paper beside a will, an’ you know.”